Pages

01 December 2011

Do you ever cheat? A little short cut, here and there? Not with important things, mind you. I'm talking decor. I'm sharing a little non-sewing secret today, and maybe it's something you already do, in which case, great minds, right?

Each year we choose a color scheme for Christmas. Last year it was black and white. The year before that? Orange. The best, and you'd be surprised how many orange ornaments are out there. This year we're going more traditional with red. Now sewing a tree skirt every year would stress me out because o1 I don't like to sew things that we use once every few years and o2 I don't like sewing tree skirts.

So what I do is just use fabric! That way I can just wash it up afterward and use it for another project! Plus, it gives a more organic, swaddling, flowy feel.

You'll need about 4 yards, depending on how loose you want to wrap it around the base.

Use some old towels to give it even more "poof" and just lay the fabric on top and around, allowing the folds and wrinkles to take over. Tuck the selvedge under and

voila! A big, full "tree skirt!" That "2" fabric sure has come in handy!

We usually decide on our color the year before and buy things on clearance after Christmas for a huge bargain. I also am starting a new tradition this year. I saw this over at Dana's blog and thought it was brilliant. We all love an advent countdown. Tired of chains, but didn't want the kids fighting over the candy or gift advents (or make 5!).

So I decided to do a book advent, but we don't really have a collection of Christmas books, so I took a trip to the library and found some fun ones to wrap up. The Christmas books are all in one section, so it's easy to peruse and find some good ones. I pulled the red wrapping decor and had at it. Want some inexpensive ideas of wrapping presents? This is from last year.

The amaryllis are coming along nicely (the paperwhites not so much.) Do you plant amaryllis and paperwhites for the holidays?

Stockings are ready to be hung (with or without care).

And I bought myself a little productive time by putting Drummer in front of the high contrast photo wall ;) He's ready for a few of his portraits to be up there. Next up: decorating the tree because it only took me 3 days to find enough time to put the lights up.

28 comments:

Oh yeah, that's what we do too! I usually have some nice solid fleece handy to wrap up around the bottom of the tree. I usually set the tree stand inside a plastic trash bag to catch any water that sloshes out and to protect our wood floor. The only thing it doesn't do is keep the kitties out!

I'm down with the idea of using fabric as a tree skirt. I may just follow suit this year! I think that makes the bottom of the tree look just a bit sad. I love the idea of doing a book Advent calendar.

We started a new tradition for Advent this year - the Jesse Tree. It comes from the verse about the root of Jesse, and different bible stories every night. Then I'm having the little one color an ornament (made from cards downloaded and printed, just googled Jesse Tree) each night. I love it so far!

I love the boldness of your print you are using, saw something like it the other day and it's been calling my name to go back and purchase it! I have always just used fabric for the exact same reasons as you but I have to share my idea I used last year. I purchased a beautiful red ball gown from Goodwill half price, it was a perfect solution, just cut the bodice off and it alredy has a hem. You can check it out herehttp://ms-smartie-pants.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-lovely-are-your-branches.html And if you guys use a different color every year imagine some of the gorgeous ball gowns out there!

I love the advent calendar idea. I just left a message at Dana's blog, but I will put the link here if you are interested. It is a beautiful Russian Christmas story. If you had a Babushka doll, you could print off the story and pop it inside the doll for one of your advent days.

haha. our tree skirt is very similar! A few yards of black fabric just draped around. I'm with you...so much easier. Will you ever run out of the cute IKEA fabric? I hope not! If you ever need more I have a yard at my house :)

That's what I do! Well, it's with an old Christmas table cloth that my parents didn't want (probably because unfortunately, it's kind of ugly...) but hey when you're in college and poor (hello, tree skirts are like $40!) what are you going to do?

exactly what we do! i love the fluffy look that draping of fabric brings, a skirt just looks odd to me! found some red burlap and decided to change things up a bit this year....going for a more rustic feel!

I have always used a piece of fabric for a tree skirt...glad to know I am not the only one! As for books...best ever! We have been doing Christmas stories for a few years now and I have built up my collection (thrift stores & after Christmas sales) so that the library is now blessing other families! My kids LOVE the tradition! Isn't this the best time of year for so many fun traditions!?!?

Lovely ideas! We could totally use a new tree skirt, and how fabulous that it's no-sew! The rest of your wonderful tutorials REALLY make me wish I could sew - I'm so inspired! I'm passing on the Versatile Blogger Award: http://karlamcurry.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/the-versatile-blogger-award/.

I know you used that fabric in an adorable dress before. Did you spoonflower it or find it somewhere? I have been coveting that fabric ever since I saw it to make a "Birthday Two" dress for a special little one. Love your Christmas decor thus far- so far mine still fabulous resting in boxes!

Thank you. You saved my sanity the day you posted this. I was trying to make one, and cutting circles apparently is not my forte! I grabbed the left over fabric, poofed it up, and that's where it sits. Thanks. I will probably do this for the rest of my life. So much easier! :)